In a gloomy room that seemed to contain nothing but a table positioned in the center, a man sat in silence. His face was blurred, as if hidden behind a mist, yet the sharp outline of a tuxedo could still be made out — the kind one might wear to an elegant event. Beside him lay a thick, weathered book.
Meanwhile…
A young man stood in a daze as the world around him burned. The village he had once called home was engulfed in a raging, unstoppable fire. Sparks danced in the air like cruel fireflies, and the wooden beams of houses collapsed in a chorus of crackling destruction. The heat licked at his skin, but he couldn't bring himself to look away.
Tamer's thoughts felt heavy, tangled in confusion.
"Is my bad luck really that bad…?"
For as long as he could remember, Tamer had believed that every terrible thing around him happened because of him. People, homes, even the smallest comforts — all seemed doomed in his presence. It wasn't true, not entirely, but it felt true enough to shape his life. And whenever someone he cared for was lost, he always took the blame.
"If… if only I were stronger. Maybe accidents like this could be prevented."
People in the village never liked having him around. He was the boy without a home — a stray. Some merely ignored him, others looked down on him. Only a handful had shown him kindness, and now… he didn't even know if they were alive.
"I think it's time for me to go. There's nothing left for me here anyway."
He turned to leave but glanced over his shoulder one last time.
"There was nothing for me here… not like anyone liked me. But still… I hope some survived."
The thought lingered, then drifted away as he stepped into the unknown.
Days passed. He wandered aimlessly, each step heavier than the last. His body grew weak — too little food, too little water — until finally, in the middle of a dirt road cutting through a lonely stretch of land, he collapsed.
When he awoke, his head pounded and his throat felt like sandpaper.
"Mmm… wh… where am I?"
"Ohh, you're finally awake."
The voice was warm, though a little uncertain. "I wasn't sure when you'd come to. I'm not really a doctor, so I had no idea what was wrong with you."
Tamer groaned and repeated his question. "Where am I?"
"Easy, kid. You're in my… ehhh… home. Yeah, let's call it that."
Something about this guy felt… odd. His manner was casual, almost too casual, and it made Tamer uneasy.
"Now then," the man continued, "everything's been taken care of. What's your name, kid?"
Tamer finally focused on him — tall, strikingly handsome, white hair, and piercing blue eyes. The kind of looks that made people double-take.
"What is he, a noble or something?" Tamer thought.
But then he noticed the man's clothes. Worn. Practical. Definitely not noble attire.
"Ehhh, what are you thinking about?" the man asked with a grin.
"My name's Tamer. What about you?"
"My name is Riven. Riven Cross."
"Damn it. Even his name is cool. What's with this guy?"
"Now, why don't you tell me what happened? I mean, it's only common courtesy to show gratitude to someone who helped you."
"I… don't wanna talk about it."
Riven studied him closely, eyes sweeping from head to toe like he was reading a book.
"This kid's lean… way too lean. Hasn't eaten properly in a long time. But damn… he's actually really handsome. Those yellow eyes match his hair perfectly. Tall, too. He just needs more weight on him."
"Well," Riven said after a moment, "it's fine if you don't want to talk. Everyone's got a past, right? So… how old are you anyway?"
"What is this? An interrogation?"
"Relax. Since you're gonna be staying here, it's only natural I ask."
"Staying here? What is he talking about—"
Before Tamer could speak, two voices called out from downstairs.
"Mr. Riven, we're back from collecting wood!"
They sounded about his age.
Tamer got up from the bed, his legs still stiff, and opened the door. Standing there were two people — a boy and a girl — both watching him curiously.
The boy, black-haired with sharp green eyes, was the first to speak.
"My name's Kael, and this one next to me is Ny."
"Oh… uh… I'm Tamer. Nice to meet you."
Ny had blonde — almost yellow — hair and soft pink eyes. Her shy demeanor contrasted Kael's directness.
"So, you'll be staying with us, right?" Kael asked, eyes lighting up. "Riven's been teaching us swordsmanship lately. Maybe you can learn with us."
"You guys don't even know me…" Tamer hesitated.
"Well, let us get to know you, then. Besides, it's not like you have anywhere else to go," Kael said with a grin.
"…They have a point. And learning swordsmanship wouldn't be a bad idea."
"Alright," Tamer finally said. "I'm in."
"Good," Riven's voice cut in. "Now, let's eat."
With the wood Kael and Ny had brought, Riven prepared a simple meal. They sat around the campfire in the shabby old house's yard.
"So," Tamer asked between bites, "I've been wandering for a while now. Where exactly are we?"
"Well, as you can see, we're in the middle of a forest," Riven explained. "I found this old place a few years back while wandering myself. Been fixing it up little by little. Still a lot of weak spots, though."
The house was clearly ancient, built of weathered brick and timber. It leaned slightly to one side, like it was tired from standing for so long.
"When I first found it, it gave me a weird vibe," Riven admitted with a smile. "But I guess it was just my mind playing tricks."
"Yeah… it does feel a little weird," Tamer said, rubbing his neck. "But I could get used to it."
"Now, Tamer — say 'Aegis Records.'"
"…What's that?"
"Just say it," Kael sighed.
"…Aegis Records."
A light-blue screen flickered into existence before Tamer's eyes.
Name: Tamer
Level: 3
Stats: Locked
MP: 200
HP: 150
Skills/Abilities: Locked
Achievements/Titles: None
Transcended Ability: Locked
Rank: Novice
Weapon: Unknown
So this is the system… It was surreal. Cool, even. But his numbers were low. Understandable, but still low.
"That's your Aegis Record? Pretty good for a novice," Riven commented.
"I think it's amazing too," Ny said softly — her first words since their meeting.
"Yeah," Kael agreed. "Not many have numbers like that their first time."
Riven's eyes locked on him. "Now, I'll ask you directly: Do you want to train in swordsmanship under me? You might not see it now, but I excel in it."
"Have you learned swordsmanship under Riven too, Kael?"
"No, I'm an archer."
"Did Riven teach you?"
"Yep. You might not realize it yet, but Riven's a prodigy in martial arts — any weapon, any style. Spear, sword, hand-to-hand, archery… even magic. His transcended ability is All-Rounder. Says it all, really."
"What about you, Ny?"
"I'm a healer," she said, a shy smile tugging at her lips. "My transcended ability is Mother Gaia — Mother of Nature."
I see...
Well then now that we have conversed a little, how about we continue in the morning. It getting late after all.